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Rodgers’ Liverpool better than Klopp’s 2017 side – Harry

Harry Redknapp believes Liverpool have not made any progress during the time Jurgen Klopp has spent in charge and thinks they’re exactly at the stage they were when Brendan Rodgers in charge.

Liverpool’s recent form has been massively called into question with the Reds are fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification.

Klopp’s troops have won just two games out of 12 in 2017 as they’ve lost touch with the Premier League title race, as well as crashing out of the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Redknapp, writing in his column for the Evening Standard, believes that the current struggles are indicative of a side who have not progressed since Rodgers was sacked in October 2015.

The former Tottenham manager writes: ‘Everyone got carried away with Jurgen Klopp’s appointment but Liverpool are no better off than they were two years ago.

‘They were at their best in 2013-14 with Raheem Sterling, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge scoring goals for fun under Brendan Rodgers.

‘Suarez was the best player in the Premier League, Sterling’s pace frightened teams every week and Sturridge was at the top of his game. Now you look at them and they don’t terrify you in the same way.

‘Liverpool need to buy at least four top players in the summer to challenge. They are the joint top goalscorers alongside Chelsea and Sadio Mane has had a good first season at the club alongside Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, but it is hard to argue that trio is comparable with what came before.

‘I’ve said all along: they will finish about sixth. I had a bet on BT Sport with Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman they won’t be in the top four come May, with the loser donating £500 to charity. I still think my money’s safe. They are miles away from challenging for the title.

‘Klopp will be feeling the heat but people got carried away with him right from the beginning. After his first game away at Tottenham in October 2015, everyone said, “Look at the difference in the work rate, look at how they press the ball” like it was the first time anyone had ever told a group of players to run about. He’d only been there a few days, so what could he really change?’